Have you thought about simply skipping Maine altogether and adding to either the Cape or Boston? To me, doing both Southern coastal Maine and Cape Cod is a bit redundant.

clark, thank you! Hadn't thought of that. Reckoned it was too early for mosquitoes, actually--is that what you're talking about, or flies, or...?

I understand our itinerary does not make sense to some, but it's set now. Also, we do not plan to drive the same way each way but to meander a bit. And again, this is a first foray and therefore not intended to be a thorough exploration of anything. I appreciate everyone's input.

On the Cape, Arnold's in Eastham opens on Friday, May 15th. Mac's Shack in Wellfleet is another good seafood restaurant, though open only at dinner. If you tire of seafood, there is a South African restaurant in Eastham, Karoo, which is veg friendly. The Left Bank Gallery in Wellfleet is a shop with both high end art, and interesting items for the home.

If you drive North to Provincetown, take Rt. 6 one way, and return on 6A to Rt. 6. Off Rt. 6 is the other National Seashore visitor center, the Province Lands center in Provincetown. It is worth stopping there for its roof top observation deck where you can see both the ocean, beach, and airport, and the bay and the buildings of Provincetown.

If you're at all interested in buying spices (and you may not want to lug any around), you can stop at Atlantic Spice, which is where 6 and 6A divide in North Truro.

York, Maine, is the headquarters of Stonewall Kitchen, and there is a large shop with many samples, and a nice cafe serving breakfast and lunch. It's right on Rt. 1.

Thanks, cw, those are just the kind of suggestions I need!

Here you go, you can either go on the mailboat run (linked) or click on the menu for info about their scenic cruises. The boat dock is right next to the parking garage, all at the foot of the Old Port Area so you can leave you car while you explore and have lunch if you take the first morning trip.
http://www.cascobaylines.com/maine-b...ises/mailboat/

Stonewall Kitchen is a fun stop. If you decide to go that, there is also When Pigs Fly Bakery which has lots of samples. If you buy bread, you can have it sliced. There's a side road just south of Pigs Fly, if I remember correctly that takes you to the back roads around York/Kittery Point. Stonewall and Pigs Fly are on Rt 1 and south of them becomes outlet h3ll.

I wasn't paying attention to which days you will be in Boston. If it's a Friday or Saturday, the pushcart vendors will be in Haymarket Square which is next to the North End. You'll do fine exploring on your own.

NewBe, dfrost's reference to Haymarket reminded me that there is a brand new public art installation on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston. I haven't seen it yet but it looks interesting and unusual. If you find yourself in that area.

http://www.echelman.com/project/boston-greenway/

With all due respect to your plans in cement, you don't have the time or mileage to meander all that much off highways. Good luck. I look forward to your trip report! We enjoy taking shore road to or from York maine lighthouse to Ogunquit.

If you are still able to tweek I would not head all the way to Portland, which is a large bustling city full of traffic (if Maine has traffic) and probably not at all what you're looking for. Get up to Ogunquit on Tuesday afternoon, enjoy Kennebunkport/Cape Porpoise on Wednesday and maybe a drive out around Shapleigh lakes/Lake Lovell. Then off to the Cape Thursday morning. You really don't have time to settle in and enjoy Portland/Cape Elizabeth or to get up to Rockport/Camden so why plan a "nothing but the car" trip when you can enjoy Ogunquit/Kennebunkport/Sebago Lakes in the off-season instead?

I would skip Maine altogether. I would spend a day in Martha's Vineyard and/or Nantucket off the Cape and/or Block Island off of RI.
Provincetown is worth half a day anyway. Beats the pants off of anytown in Maine.

One last reason to linger at Cape Cod

The Right Whales have arrived!!!!

Remember that "Coastal Route 1" in Maine does not meander up the coast, you have to get off route 1 and head down the peninsulas to see much coastal scenery. So a "day drive" from Portland to Rockport is going to be more trees and mini-malls than anything else. Of course you can plan more leisurely and scenic excursions but I don't see much of that possible with your time restrictions.

Rockport is in Massachusetts, Rockland is in Maine. Which is it that you plan to see??

For this short trip, I would choose Lockport.

That is Rockport. darn autocorrect

There is a Rockport in Maine as well, next to Camden. (And there is a Rockland in Massachusetts).